Man dressed as woman robs Friendswood bank

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Published 12:00 am, Thursday, March 18, 2010

A man trying to disguise himself as a woman robbed a bank in Friendswood earlier Thursday, authorities said.

The robber showed a small silver handgun to a teller at Wells Fargo Bank at East Parkwood near West Bay Area Boulevard, police said. The robber told the teller to hand over an undisclosed sum of money.

No injuries were reported in the holdup, which occurred at about 1:52 p.m.

A bank employee called 911 after the man left and got into a blue Chevrolet driven by another male, police said.

The incident was the first bank robbery of the year for the city, police added.

"Of course they happen all over the Houston area, but this is the first in Friendswood," police spokeswoman Karen Peterson said.

Witnesses described the robber as being 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, with a very thin build. The robber was wearing a long black wig, a black shirt with writing on it, possibly with buttons, fishnet shorts and black bag. He wore makeup to make his skin appear darker, officials said.

"The person was obviously a male," said Peterson, who added that robbers will often try to disguise themselves.

In a bank robbery in Friendswood several years ago, a man donned a long blond wig, police said.